Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.14 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending Dec. 31, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 5.05 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.10 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.54 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.45 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.83 percent. The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.44 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.40 percent. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 5.57 percent.
The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.33 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.38 percent. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 4.85 percent. Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.
“Although long-term mortgage rates rose for the fourth week in a row, they still remain affordable by historical standards,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “Based on today's median loan amount of $138,000, monthly principal and interest payments for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are close to one-third less than a decade ago when rates peaked at 8.6 percent in May 2000. This translates into almost 50 percent less in interest payments over the full 30-year term. Nationally, the housing market is slowly improving. House prices rose for the fifth consecutive month in October to the highest level since the beginning of 2009, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite index. Eleven of the cities experienced positive growth.”
For more information, visit www.freddiemac.com.
